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I have an opportunity to purchase some Acoustat X in mint condition (refurbished amps). I have three other pairs of Acoustats (1+1 with medallion and cap upgrades, Spectra 2200 and Spectra 4400), which I loved and listened to for years. I have also owned STAX ELS F81 speakers and Audiostatic ES100s, so I know quite well the potential transparency and coherence of stats.
The question is for those who have heard them, is this: How much is gained by going 'direct drive' and is there anything lost by doing so? Was this first approach by Acoustat the best they ever made?
thanks for the feedback.
Follow Ups:
E-Stat will have best feedback. In 1979 I was shopping for speakers and spent time listening to the X's up at Jonas Miller in Hollywood. There were several speakers that caught my ear - but the X's seemed (except for their size & cost) one of the clearest. I ended up elsewhere with Shahinian's new Obelisks.
There is nothing "lost" the bass always seamed more controlled, With the correct gain setting and high frequency setting, the high frequencies were very nice. Midrange speaks for it self. I owned the X frames for a few years, The X frames have a character of their own. I raised them up, placed them on cones, floated them on isolation, for me sitting on the floor as designed worked best.
I took a pair of servos as far as I could. The sound was exceptional (to me). After getting it all worked out, I was running for three years continuous without an issue. Worked flawlessly and I loved the sound. That being said, I had years of DIY trial and error to get to that point, The stock ones seamed to have their issues. I ended up using the amps with one plus ones for the last 5 or more years I owned them.
Analogue Associates has made these amps usable and probably deserves a lot of credit.
I frequently regret selling them.
Completely agree with you regarding Analogue Associates.
I purchased a pair of the Model X in '77 shortly after hearing them in Atlanta when Jim Strickland and Bob Rieman brought a pair for JWC to review. Not quite like the good doctor's Dayton-Wrights, but nice!I later upgraded them first to the Monitor using the new frame and additional panel. And eventually moved to the dual transformer interface. My take is the interface driven by a Threshold Stasis 3 was a decided improvement in transparency over the stock servo charge amps.
Nice idea, but remember it used an op amp as the input stage. Even that was upgraded once from the original Harris 741 to a TL072 along the way - not exactly the source of dreams. Naturally, I cannot speak to those who have modified the original amplifiers in various ways to address their limitations.
I'd say listen first.
edit: While I use Sound Lab U790s in the music system, I enjoy a pair of 1+1s in the HT using Roy Esposito modified "air" interfaces. You may recall there were no fewer than three different interface models and the X never employed the newer OFC panels.
Edits: 07/18/22
So, I do not have a wealth of experience with xformer based Acoustats. A little, but nowhere near the stick time I have with directly driven Acoustats.
I've been living with my Monitor 4's and their completely rebuilt direct-drive servos since 2010. The MK interface Acoustats I've heard sounded very, very good, but they lacked something compared to my servo driven ones. Not sure I could put my finger on it if pressed, but that last little bit of speed and air that adds to the sense of realism maybe? It has been years since I heard a transformer based pair, so it's difficult for me to offer you a meaningful comparison. You're probably aware that Gordon Holt said something to the effect of "the king is dead" when he wrote about the discontinuance of the servo based Acoustats. They are something special.
If you end up with them, consider using the 6GE5 tube rather than the 6HB5. I've heard both tubes, and the 6GE5 has the sonic edge. The 6GE5 is a drop in replacement for the 6HB5. IMO, the Sylvania versions of either tube sound best - at least to my ears.
There's pics of my servos, etc. in my gallery if you wanna scope them out.
I owned a pair of the Model 3s for a number of years and worked in a store back in the 80s that sold Acoustat. A friend acquired a pair of the Xs and they were in a completely different league than my 3s or any other Acoustat that I heard then or since. If they are in good shape, and not too expensive, I would jump at the chance to acquire a pair of the Xs. You should have a good size room as they produce prodigious bass.
Terry
THX for the feedback! It's consistent to what i have read about them.
cheers
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